During a report for Sunday’s NBC Nightly News on Iran marking the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, correspondent Ali Arouzi fretted that “all is not well in the Islamic Republic” as he observed: “The anniversary, usually marked with widespread displays of anti-Americanism, muted, with only a few U.S. flags burnt in protest.”
According to the NBC reporter, marchers setting “only a few” American flags on fire was a troubling sign for the authoritarian regime. “Although large crowds have come out to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution, for many Iranians, this has been the winter of their discontent,” Arouzi sympathized. “Earthquakes, pollution, protests, and soaring prices leaving many questions unanswered,” he explained.
Noting that “now, more than ever, Iran’s future is tied to America,” Arouzi worried about the potential of President Trump rejected the nuclear deal established by the Obama administration:
President Hassan Rouhani telling me Iran will not negotiate the nuclear deal or missile program. But President Trump has said unless significant changes are made, he won’t waive nuclear sanctions....Changes Iran seems unwilling to make, leaving the future predictably unpredictable.
The NBC report was strikingly similar to a segment that aired on CBS This Morning following the nuclear deal’s implementation in 2015. At that time, correspondent Elizabeth Palmer downplayed Iranians showing their hatred for the United States: “At Friday prayers there was the usual chant of death to America, but more habit than conviction.”
Back then, Iranian anti-Americanism was downplayed to help sell Obama’s deal with the rogue nation. Now that some of the hostility towards the U.S. has lessened as the Iranian people have turned their anger at their oppressive government, NBC is concerned that “all is not well” in the fundamentalist country.
Unfortunately, this is just one more instance NBC cozying up to dictators and authoritarian regimes around the world.
Here is a full transcript of the February 11 report:
6:37 PM ET
LESTER HOLT: And as the United States navigates a tense relationship with Iran, that country today marked the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed shah of Iran. There was a massive display of support following weeks of anti-government protests. NBC’s Ali Arouzi reports now from Tehran.
ALI AROUZI: Today, the faithful flooded the streets of Iran’s capital city, but all is not well in the Islamic Republic. The anniversary, usually marked with widespread displays of anti-Americanism, muted, with only a few U.S. flags burnt in protest.
Although large crowds have come out to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution, for many Iranians, this has been the winter of their discontent. Earthquakes, pollution, protests, and soaring prices leaving many questions unanswered.
Just weeks ago, anti-government demonstrations rocked the establishment, and they were followed by small, but significant women’s protests over the mandatory veil.
SADEGH ZIBAKALAM [UNIVERSITY OF TEHRAN]: The new social protest that we are observing in Iran, it can be said that it has been unprecedented.
AROUZI: Now, more than ever, Iran’s future is tied to America, with President Hassan Rouhani telling me Iran will not negotiate the nuclear deal or missile program. But President Trump has said unless significant changes are made, he won’t waive nuclear sanctions.
DONALD TRUMP: Iran is not living up to the spirit of the deal.
AROUZI: Changes Iran seems unwilling to make, leaving the future predictably unpredictable. Ali Arouzi, NBC News, Tehran.
